The Man With No Roots (Sonnet) – Abhijit Naskar, Iftar-e Insaniyat: The First Supper

The day children are raised
without religion and nationality,
that’s the beginning of peacemaking,
and the empirical end to warmongery.

Either raise your children with
no religion or multiple religions,
either raise your children with
no culture or multiple cultures.

I grew up celebrating Diwali,
eating fruitcake on the 25th,
and waking up to the call of Azaan –
if I’m devout anything, it’s a devout human.

I have no roots, for I am the roots;
I am the ruin of all heritage of lies.
Illegal Immigrant in every state,
for I come from a Time beyond tribes.